next a story in the Sunday Times that Prince Harry had turned down his father's invitation to a party the next week, the couple's representative made the following statement. The Sussexes cast doubt on the veracity of the report, suggesting that the media outlet had distorted the truth. Omid Scobie, a friend of the couple, has suggested that the palace may have leaked the tale of the snub in order to deflect attention away from King Charles's recent visit to Kenya, where he was met with calls for an apology over Britain's Colonial history.
The couple's stance has been interpreted as them airing their concerns in public, demonstrating a sense of entitlement, and seeking to maintain some familial tie to the royal family. The timing of Meghan's statements echoes her previous comments in an interview with The Cut magazine, in which she stated that an anonymous member of the cast of The Lion King had compared her wedding to Nelson Mandela's release from jail in South Africa. Even if the rumors were refuted, they show Meghan's flair for the spotlight.
At first, Meghan and Harry tried to keep themselves in the news by declaring that they had not been invited to the King's birthday party. Meghan's spokesman issued a second statement, suggesting that King Charles had rejected them after Buckingham Palace denied extending an invitation to Harry. By doing so, the palace was cast as the villain, and the couple as the helpless victims. They are banking on the fact that King Charles will extend an invitation to them after reading this story.
The problem is that Harry will never get that time back with his dad because of the press games. Harry has previously claimed that he believed Meghan was more popular and outshining other members of the royal family, stoking concerns of jealously within the family. While Meghan's fame was undeniable, her desperate attempts to boost the royal family's profile in the United States by stealing the spotlight from other more important occasions were less so.
The royal family has decided to disregard the antics and keep their dignity in the face of such criticism. People lined up to see Prince William in Singapore, but Harry and Meghan were spotted in a line to meet Celine Dion, prompting comparisons between the two couples' public receptions.
